Niccolo Machiavelli was born May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. He was an Italian diplomat who was best known for writing “The Prince, a handbook for unscrupulous politicians that inspired the term "Machiavellian" and established its author as the "father of modern political theory" (Bio.com). He was a diplomat for 14 years during the Medici family’s exile. Lorenzo The Magnificent was the son of Piero di Cosimo de' Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni. Once he died at the age of 43, his eldest son Piero succeeded him. He soon infuriated the public because he accepted a peace treaty with France. After two years of him being in power he was forced out of Florence in 1494 and then died in exile (History.com). Machiavelli was dismissed and briefly jailed once the Medici family was allowed to return in 1512, this was when he wrote The Prince. He also wrote several poems and plays. He died in the year 1527 on June 21st. Machiavelli never considered himself a philosopher he often overtly rejected philosophical inquires. “He tends to appeal to experience and example in the place of rigorous logical analysis”. Many philosophers back then and today feel compelled to engage with his ideas, either to dispute them or to incorporate his insights into their own teachings. When Machiavelli was born, Italy was divided into four rival city-states and was in mercy of stronger government through the rest of Europe. After the temporary fall of Florence, which was due to the ruling of the Medici family in 1494, Machiavelli became a diplomat for 14 years. During these 14 years he “earned a reputation for deviousness, enjoying shocking his associates by appearing more shameless than he truly was” (Bio.com). Machiavelli tried to organize the Florentine militia against the return of the Medici family in 1512. Once this became known he was tortured, jailed and banished from an active role in politics. When Machiavelli was away from politics this is when he wrote The Prince. During this dark period he got the chance to read Roman history and write political treaties. The theme of his works has been ”interpreted as the political philosophy that one may resort to any means in order to establish and preserve total authority” (Bio.com). Some other works in addition to The Prince were the treatise On the Art of War(1521), among others, and several poems and plays, including 1524's satirical The Mandrake. During his last years he lived in a small village outside of Florence. Today he is known as the father of modern political theory. Machiavelli died on June 21, 1527 and his tomb is in the church of Santa Croce in Florence. This is very ironic because he had been banned from entering this church during his last years of life (Bio.com).
Niccolo Machiavelli was born May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. He was an Italian diplomat who was best known for writing “The Prince, a handbook for unscrupulous politicians that inspired the term "Machiavellian" and established its author as the "father of modern political theory" (Bio.com). He was a diplomat for 14 years during the Medici family’s exile. Lorenzo The Magnificent was the son of Piero di Cosimo de' Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni. Once he died at the age of 43, his eldest son Piero succeeded him. He soon infuriated the public because he accepted a peace treaty with France. After two years of him being in power he was forced out of Florence in 1494 and then died in exile (History.com). Machiavelli was dismissed and briefly jailed once the Medici family was allowed to return in 1512, this was when he wrote The Prince. He also wrote several poems and plays. He died in the year 1527 on June 21st.
Machiavelli never considered himself a philosopher he often overtly rejected philosophical inquires. “He tends to appeal to experience and example in the place of rigorous logical analysis”. Many philosophers back then and today feel compelled to engage with his ideas, either to dispute them or to incorporate his insights into their own teachings.
When Machiavelli was born, Italy was divided into four rival city-states and was in mercy of stronger government through the rest of Europe. After the temporary fall of Florence, which was due to the ruling of the Medici family in 1494, Machiavelli became a diplomat for 14 years. During these 14 years he “earned a reputation for deviousness, enjoying shocking his associates by appearing more shameless than he truly was” (Bio.com). Machiavelli tried to organize the Florentine militia against the return of the Medici family in 1512. Once this became known he was tortured, jailed and banished from an active role in politics. When Machiavelli was away from politics this is when he wrote The Prince. During this dark period he got the chance to read Roman history and write political treaties. The theme of his works has been ”interpreted as the political philosophy that one may resort to any means in order to establish and preserve total authority” (Bio.com). Some other works in addition to The Prince were the treatise On the Art of War(1521), among others, and several poems and plays, including 1524's satirical The Mandrake.
During his last years he lived in a small village outside of Florence. Today he is known as the father of modern political theory. Machiavelli died on June 21, 1527 and his tomb is in the church of Santa Croce in Florence. This is very ironic because he had been banned from entering this church during his last years of life (Bio.com).
Prepared by Katrina Truglia
Works Cited
History.com Staff. “ The Medici Family.” December, 2016. ily
http://www.history.com/topics/medici-family
Biography.com Editors. “Niccolò Machiavelli Biography.” December, 2016.
http://www.biography.com/people/niccol%C3%B2-machiavelli-9392446#synopsis
Kreis, Steven. “Niccolo Machiavelli, 1469-1527.” December, 2016
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/machiavelli.html
Nederman, Cary. “Niccolo Machiavelli.” December, 2016.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/machiavelli/